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Europe/Russia
Ireland | As part of his whirlwind visit to Ireland, US President Donald Trump promised on 13 September that he will scrap tariffs on Irish whiskey. This could restore a level playing field with Scotland and Northern Ireland, which had already enjoyed zero tariffs on the drink. However, Mr Trump did not say when exactly he would drop the tariffs. The US administration must formalize the exemption through an official decree.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Staff at Diageo’s largest Scottish distillery will go on strike for almost three weeks if the drinks group pushes ahead with plans to cut hundreds of jobs across its Scottish operations. Over half of the 200 employees at Cameronbridge, Europe’s largest grain distillery which produces whisky for blends including Johnnie Walker and Buchanan’s, will participate in strikes starting on 28 September.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | A group of food and beverage firms, including Carlsberg and Danone, have committed to publishing data on their healthy food and drink sales in the UK, starting in 2027. They also pushed the government to make this practice mandatory for all large businesses. The companies set out the plan in a letter to the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, media reported on 15 September. The signatories include Intersnack subsidiary KP Snacks, frozen-food group Nomad Foods and Mr Kipling cakes maker Premier Foods.
Europe/Russia
Spain | The acquisition of two B2B coffee brands comes less than 12 months after the Madrid-based brewer Mahou San Miguel diversified its beverage portfolio with the launch of Café 170, a coffee brand, which hit the hospitality sector in January. Moving further into Beyond Beer, the firm has now acquired the coffee brands La Flor Del Café and Gran Café Royal, media reported on 14 September. Financial details were not disclosed.
Europe/Russia
Germany | As if another proof were needed that craft beer has come and gone in Germany: After 13 years of trying, the national brewer, Bitburger Group, terminated its craft beer label Craftwerk, which had been the pet project of former Technical MD Jan Niewodniczanski. He departed a year ago and soon afterwards Bitburger phased out its production. Any remaining stock will be sold off, German media reported on 3 September.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | For centuries, the wooden real ale pump has been the hallmark of a good British pub. But now problems are brewing for the Campaign for Real Ale, Britain’s most influential consumer movement. It has seen its membership sink to an eight-year low and its accounts show it made a pre-tax loss of GBP 800,000 (USD 1.1 million) last year. Membership dropped to 143,038 (for the financial year ending 30 November 2025), down from over 192,000 eight years prior.
Europe/Russia
Interview | When it comes to German figures on alcohol consumption, data are cherry-picked, estimates and computed figures are jumbled together, relative figures are published without absolute figures – and lo and behold: Germany becomes a country of heavy drinkers. Which was presumably the plan. However, this is far from true and the physician Dr Winfried Maatz proves it in his recently published book*.
Europe/Russia
Switzerland | The consolidation of Heineken’s European brewery network continues. In Switzerland, the Dutch brewer will invest a double-digit million figure of Swiss francs in its Lucerne facility. A new “city brewery” will be built on the 38,000-sqm grounds of the Eichhof brewery, which also doubles as Heineken’s Swiss headquarters. In a press release (27 August), Heineken announced that Eichhof products will continue to be brewed in Lucerne, but also limited-edition and seasonal specialty beers. Larger production volumes will be shifted to Heineken’s Calanda brewery in Chur. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2030.
Europe/Russia
Russia | The government has added light alcoholic beverages – including still and sparkling wines, beer, and ciders – along with electronic cigarettes, vape liquids, and nicotine salts to its list of strategically important goods, as was reported by The Moscow Times on 18 August. Under the updated Russian Criminal Code, individuals caught bringing these items across the Russian border or the Eurasian Economic Union without proper customs clearance face up to five years in prison if the shipment exceeds RUB 100,000 (USD 1100).
Europe/Russia
Denmark | Shares in Carlsberg fell on 19 August after the brewer reported first half results which were below consensus forecasts. Carlsberg's B shares were down 3.3 percent in late-morning Copenhagen trading. First-half revenue rose by just 2.6 percent to DKK 47 billion (USD 7.3 billion), while adjusted operating profit increased 4.5 percent to DKK 7.45 billion (USD 1.16 billion). Both results were slightly below forecasts.
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BRAUWELT on tour
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BRAUWELT on tour
